Setting Mechas

[takadote26]

So, back in late 00's there was focus on mechas, and they were commonplace in a lot of browser games (including MechQuest), but let's discuss the hard and soft sci-fi of mecha designs and also the setting (whether fantasy or sci-fi), since there's a lot of disrespecancy on how big a mecha should be in late 00's, with some media saying "the mecha is as big as a skyscraper", and others saying "they're human sized", and still others saying "they fit in a hangar and/or parking garage". Note: I came from late 00's, so this is my basis for the mechas, since they had non-standards heights back then

 

[Naomasa298]

There has NEVER been an agreement on how big a "mech" should be. Why would there be? They're not real.

In the 1980s, a Gundam was 19 metres tall. A Scopedog was 4m tall. In the 90s, an Evangelion was much, much, bigger, about 60m tall. The Gurenn Lagann was the size of the fricking universe, or thereabouts. They all have different in-universe design mechanics. A "mecha" can be the size of a power suit to the size of a space station. They work on different fantasy or sci-fi technology, under different conditions and they're made to sell toys of different sizes. The attempts at building "real" mecha SO FAR have resulted in things about the size of a Scopedog because of the limits of our technology.

The real question is, why would you build one in the first place?

 

[JT Woody]

From a writer/reader standpoint... they are as big as however you write them.
and they are as big as however the reader interprets them.

I never had issues with how big mechas were depicted in anime. I just accepted it as is. They were as big as they needed to be for the series and the artist's creation.
Metabots were people sized (EDIT Metabots were robots.... not mech suits )
RahXephon mechas were bas big as buildings
Code Geass mechas weren't that big but they were big
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet mechas looked like they were the size of industrial building equipment like a crane

Then you have the mechas in Pacific Rim:



No debate from me. I just roll with it!

 

[Madman Starryteller]

Where does the limit for what's a mecha start and end? In my universe I have something like a battle suit you can enter into that is about the same height as the user. Can that be classified as a mecha? I also have standard mecha too, that are roughly the size of a modern day tank, but upright.

In Fallout 4 they have Power Armour, can that be classified as a mecha? Or is that commonly called something else?
In Warhammer 40K they have Dreadnoughts that carry the mangled bodies of space marines who have gone near death, they are basically put into these machines so that they can continue to serve.

I think mechas are a cool concept.

 

[JT Woody]

In my universe I have something like a battle suit you can enter into that is about the same height as the user.

like an Ironman suit?

 

[Madman Starryteller]

like an Ironman suit?

Ah, yes, forgot about that existing. But yeah, similar to an ironman suit.